Former Pakistani Cricketer Faces Trial for Incitement to Murder Dutch Politician Geert Wilders
Former Pakistani international cricketer Khalid Latif is on trial for allegedly inciting the murder of far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders. Dutch prosecutors are seeking a 12-year jail sentence for Latif, who is being tried in absentia. The charges against him include incitement to murder, incitement to criminal acts, and threatening violence against Wilders.
According to Reuters, prosecutors claim that Latif posted a video in 2018 offering a reward of 3 million rupees for the murder of Wilders. This video was a response to Wilders’ announcement of a cartoon contest depicting caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, which was later canceled. In Islam, images of the Prophet Muhammad are considered forbidden and caricatures are highly offensive to most Muslims.
Khalid Latif, who received a five-year ban from cricket in 2017 due to a spot-fixing scandal, currently resides in Pakistan. Reuters was unable to reach Latif for comment. The 37-year-old cricketer captained the Pakistan team in the 2010 Asian Games.
Geert Wilders, 59, is known as one of Europe’s prominent far-right leaders who has played a significant role in shaping the immigration debate in the Netherlands. Although he has never held a government position, his Freedom Party (PVV) is the third-largest in the Dutch parliament and the main opposition party. Due to security concerns, Wilders has been under constant police protection since 2004.
Speaking directly to Latif in court, Wilders declared that he would not be intimidated by his call for his murder and the reward offered. He stated, Your call to kill me and offer a reward is despicable and will not silence me.
The prosecution in the case has highlighted the lack of judicial cooperation or extradition treaties between the Netherlands and Pakistan. Previous cooperation requests in this matter went unanswered. The court is set to deliver its judgment on September 11.
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